Chapter 4: Life Span

Question 1

What is developmental psychology?

Answer 1

Examination of physical, cognitive, & social development

Question 2

What three issues do developmental psychologist focus on?

Answer 2

1. Nature & Nurture
2. continuity & Stages
3. Stability & Change

Question 3

What is a zygote?

Answer 3

Fertilized egg

Question 4

What is an embryo?

Answer 4

• Developing human organism

* 2 weeks after fertilization through 2nd month

Question 5

What is a fetus

Answer 5

• human organism from 9 weeks —> birth

Question 6

Describe tetrogens?

Answer 6

• agents (viruses & drugs) can damage an embryo/fetus

Question 7

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?

Answer 7

Physical & cognitive abnormalities (children) caused by pregnant woman’s heavy drinking

Question 8

Explain Maturation

Answer 8

Biological growth processes that enable orderly changes in behavior

Question 9

What is schema?

Answer 9

• concept/framework that organizes & interprets information

Question 10

Describe Assimilation?

Answer 10

• interpreting our new experiences in terms of existing schemas

Question 11

What is sensorimotor stage?

Answer 11

• Piaget’s theory

- birth to 2 yrs infants know the world in terms of their sensory impressions & motor activities

Question 12

Object Permanence is defined as…

Answer 12

The awareness that things continue to exist even when not perceived

Question 13

Piaget’s Theory describes Pre-operational stage as…

Answer 13

• 2-7 a child learns to use language but does not understand the mental operations of concrete logic

Question 14

Concrete Operational Stage describes

Answer 14

• cognitive development

• 7-11 yr of age
• children gain mental operations that enable them to think logically

Question 15

Formal Operational Stage explains

Answer 15

• begins around age 12

- people begin to think logically about abstract concepts

Question 16

What are three parenting styles

Answer 16

1. Authoritarian: impose rules & expect obedience
2. Permissive: un-restraining
3. Authoritative: demanding & responsive

Question 17

Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development

Answer 17

Stage: Issue:
- Infancy —> 1 yr. Trust vs. Mistrust

• Toddler Autonomy vs. shame & doubt
• Preschool. Initiative vs. guilt
• Elementary School Competence vs. inferiority
• adolescence. Identity vs role confusion
• young adult. Intimacy vs isolation
• middle age. Generativity vs stagnation
• late adulthood. Integrity vs. despair

Question 18

Description of cross-sectional study

Answer 18

A study in which people of different ages are compared with one another

Question 19

Longitudinal Study description

Answer 19

Research in which the same people are restudied and tested over a long period of time

Question 20

Successful aging: Social Cultural Influences

Answer 20

• support from family & friends
• culture respect for aging
• sage living conditions

Question 21

Successful aging: Biological Influences

Answer 21

• no genetic predisposition to early cognitive or physical decline
• appropriate nutrition

Question 22

Successful Aging: Psychological Influences

Answer 22

• optimistic outlook

* physically & mentally active lifestyle